Gaming machine with multiple reel matrix

Abstract

A bonus feature for a gaming machine in which additional graphic features are caused to be displayed as overlays of the graphic imagery of a base game; said graphic imagery of said base game comprising symbols arranged in a first matrix of symbol containing elements, wherein columns of said first matrix are visible portions of a rotatable set of inner reels; said additional graphic features comprising symbols in selected elements of a second matrix of elements, wherein columns of said second matrix of elements are visible portions of a rotatable set of outer reels; and wherein predetermined arrangements of said additional graphic features trigger at least one bonus feature game.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bonus feature for a gaming machine having a display window in which additional graphic features are displayed as overlays of the graphic imagery of the base game in the display window, said graphic imagery of said base game comprising symbols arranged in a first matrix of symbol containing elements wherein the elements in the base game are bounded by hexagonal figures or quadrilateral figures and are staggered to allow nesting of contiguous hexagonal elements and wherein the first matrix of symbol containing elements are is arranged into a plurality of parallel columns that rotates rotate as a plurality of simulated inner reels through the display window, wherein each column of symbols of the columns of said first matrix comprises at least a three symbol containing elements of the rotatable inner reel,; said additional graphic features comprising symbols in selected elements of a second matrix of symbol containing elements wherein the second matrix of symbol containing elements are is arranged into a plurality of parallel columns that rotate as a plurality of simulated outer reels through the display window so as to overlie the one or more of the plurality of inner reels wherein the plurality of simulated outer reels that are selected from a plurality of sets of simulated outer reels; said set of simulated outer reels being selected from a plurality of sets of predetermined simulated outer reels, a random selection determining which set of said plurality of sets of pre-determined simulated outer reels is used for said a bonus feature for each play of said base game and wherein a predetermined arrangement of said additional graphic feature trigger triggers at least one said bonus feature game and wherein the set of simulated inner reels rotate at a first rotational speed during play of the game and wherein the set of simulated outer reels rotate at a second rotational speed during play of the game so that elements of one or more of the plurality of sets of outer reels may be in registration with elements of one or more of the plurality of inner sets of reels when the elements are rotating through the window wherein when the elements are in registration, the registered elements of the outer and inner reel rotate through the display window at the same speed so as to maintain the registration therebetween while visible during in the display window. 
     
     
       2. The bonus feature of  claim 1  wherein said symbols of said bonus feature are positioned in said elements of said second matrix so as not to obscure said symbols in said elements of said first matrix. 
     
     
       3. The bonus feature of  claim 1  wherein said bonus feature and said base game are logically distinct; neither one influencing an outcome of the other. 
     
     
       4. The bonus feature of  claim 1  wherein sequences of said additional graphic features on each reel of said set of outer reels are predetermined. 
     
     
       5. The bonus feature of  claim 1  wherein each set of said plurality of sets of predetermined outer reels confers a different probability of triggering said at least one bonus game. 
     
     
       6. The bonus feature of  claim 1  wherein value of a bet on said base game determines a weighting applied to said random selection of said set of said outer reels. 
     
     
       7. The bonus feature of  claim 1  wherein selection of a line bet on said base game determines a weighting applied to said random selection of said set of said outer reels. 
     
     
       8. The bonus feature of  claim 1  wherein selection of a combination of value of a bet and selection of a pay line determines a weighting applied to said random selection of said set of said outer reels. 
     
     
       9. The bonus feature of  claim 1  wherein probability of triggering said at least one bonus game is greater than zero for any selection of said set of outer reels. 
     
     
       10. The bonus feature of  claim 1  wherein a bonus feature game conferred by a predetermined displayed outcome of said bonus feature is played on a primary display screen of said gaming machine. 
     
     
       11. The bonus feature of  claim 1  wherein a bonus feature game conferred by a predetermined displayed outcome of said outer reels is played on a secondary display screen of said gaming machine. 
     
     
       12. The bonus feature of  claim 1  wherein said bonus feature game is played on a primary display of said gaming machine; a secondary display of said machine displaying a progressive jackpot feature associated with said bonus feature game. 
     
     
       13. The bonus feature of  claim 1  wherein said base game and said bonus feature game are played on a number of gaming machines linked to a progressive jackpot controller. 
     
     
       14. The bonus feature of  claim 1  wherein said n-sided figures of adjoining said inner reels of said base game are aligned in rows. 
     
     
       15. The bonus feature of  claim 1  wherein symbols of said bonus feature game are arranged for display when said inner and said outer reels are at rest, within said n-sided figures. 
     
     
       16. The bonus feature of  claim 14  wherein symbols of said bonus feature are arranged for display when said inner and said outer reels are at rest, adjoining to but outside of said n-sided figure of said base game.